Deaf Devils Of Fate

Deaf Devils Of Fate
© Surazeus
2025 02 08

After swimming in bright river of ghosts, 
Ophelia dries her hair on grassy shore, 
then walks back to town in blue evening glow, 
entranced by whoosh of cars with gold headlights, 
to relax in the Wingless Horse Cafe 
where the deaf devils of fate sing folk songs. 

When Hamlet and Odysseus arrive 
with noisy laughter of entitled boys, 
Ophelia hides her face with subtle grace 
behind thick book of Chinese poetry 
to read of cranes above mountains of mist 
where the deaf devils of fate play jade flutes. 

When Hamlet sees her eating apple pie, 
hair haloed by light of the stained glass window 
showing Keats and Fanny by the plum tree, 
he sits at her table with cheerful grin 
and asks how she has been the past few weeks 
since the deaf devils of fate stole her car. 

Leaning forward to whisper in harsh tone, 
Ophelia inquires why he returned 
all the letters she wrote to him last summer, 
because she burned them on the river shore, 
then requests that he leave her alone now 
though the deaf devils of fate call her name. 

When Hamlet grabs her arm with intense glare, 
Ophelia slips free with notebook and bag, 
and hurries down the street where crickets chirr, 
then sits on park bench by the overpass 
to cradle fragments of her broken heart 
which the deaf devils of fate gave to her. 

When dark figure in shadows of old trees 
approaches her seat in the empty park, 
Ophelia stiffens with urgent fear, 
breathing deep to calm wild beat of her heart, 
till young man with guitar asks where to go 
to join the deaf devils of fate for supper. 

Pointing back at the Wingless Horse Cafe, 
Ophelia stands and prepares to run, 
but pauses when the street musician smiles, 
"My name is Orpheus the Troubadour, 
and I just arrived from Gotham today 
to sing songs with the deaf devils of fate." 

Walking with him back to the bright cafe, 
Ophelia orders two vegeburgers 
and chamomile tea with honey and ginger, 
and smiles bright as he relates his adventures 
hitchhiking from Seattle to Miami 
with the deaf devils of fate in his heart.